Attukal Devi Temple in Trivandrum, Kerala

The Sabarimala for Women

Attukal Devi Temple, popularly known as the
Sabarimala for Women, is one of the famous Bhagavathy temples in South
India, situated at the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of
Kerala. Attukal Temple
is famous for the annual Attukal Pongala Festival held during February – March every
year. Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam is a ten day festival and the Pongala is
offered to the Goddess on the 9th day of the festival. Attukal
Pongala Festival entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for the
largest women gathering festival in the world. The 2010 Attukal Pongala
festival was on 28th February
2010, on Sunday. This year, the Attukal Pongala Festival 2011 is one 19th February 2011, Saturday.

Attukal BhagavathyTemple enshrines Goddess Parvathi
Devi as the presiding deity. It is believed that Attukal Bhagavathy is the
divinised form of Kannaki, an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi and the famous
heroine of Chilappatikaram (Shilappadikaram). The temple also has shrines
dedicated to Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva, and Lord Nagaraja.

Attukal Temple also celebrate many other Hindu festivals with much religious importance. Other major festivals celebrated in the temple include Ganesha Chathurthi, Mandala vratham, Saraswathi Pooja and Vidyarambham, Karthika festival, Ayilya pooja, Maha Shivaratri, and Aiswarya Pooja.

Attukal Devi Temple Picture

Reaching Attukal Temple

Trivandrum Central Bus Station and Thiruvananthapuram
Central Railway Station is just 2 km from Attukal Devi Temple.